They
Say / God
Said
Volume
1
Some Quotes from
Prominent Evangelicals
under the light of
God's Word
IS IT UNFAIR TO SAY that some of today's
prominent evangelicals don't seem to know
their Bibles very well? Would it be too harsh
to further imply that they are misleading others
by contradicting God's Word? Some may feel
that questioning their "spirituality" is divisive,
but Jesus told His disciples to scrutinize--He
taught them "fruit inspection": "Beware of false
prophets, which come to you in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Ye shall know them by their fruits" (Mat. 7:15-
16). Let's inspect "their fruits," by examining
what some prominent evangelicals are saying.
After all, the Bible says "To the law and to the
testimony: if they speak not according
to this word, it is because there is no
light in them." Isa. 8:20Does Carman read his Bible?
An article in Release magazine, February/March
1999, page 49, states that for 15 years,
"Christian Pop" singer, Carman, has ministered
through music and has seen approximately a
million people come to Christ.
In 1998 Carman stepped up his effort,
resolving to reach one million more people
before the year 2000. What inspired him to
attempt in 2 years what previously took him 15?
In the article Carman states:"I sense the Holy Spirit saying to me that the
end is coming sooner than we think and to
focus on winning souls more than ever before."However, Carman didn't have to wait 2000
years for "a revelation from God." All he had to
do was READ HIS BIBLE! Jesus Christ has said
all along: "Say not ye, There are yet four
months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say
unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the
fields; for they are white ALREADY TO
HARVEST" (John 4:35). Christ's return has
always been eminent; the urgency, ever present!
Is Ralph Reed Jr. disobeying God?
U.S.A. Today, Friday, September 8, 1995, ran
an article on Ralph Reed Jr., then executive
director of the Christian Coalition, an evangelical-
based political action group. The article states:"Although Reed seems more comfortable talking
politics than religion, his relationship with God
is most important in his life--his family is
second and work third--But he says he doesn't
seek direct strategic guidance through prayer."However, God specifically commands: "PRAY
without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17), especially when it
comes to "strategic guidance": "If any of you
lack wisdom, LET HIM ASK OF GOD, that giveth
to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it
shall be given him. But let him ask in faith,
nothing wavering....For let not that man
think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
A DOUBLE MINDED MAN is unstable in all his
ways." James 1:5-8Speaking of double mindedness, Mr. Reed feels
"more comfortable talking politics than religion." The
Bible, referring to those with a similar attitude,
says: "They are of the world: therefore speak
they of the world, and THE WORLD HEARETH
THEM. We are of God: he that knoweth God
heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us.
Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit
of error." 1 John 4:5-6Jesus Christ, Himself, referring to Christians,
said: "If ye were of the world, the world would
love his own: but because YE ARE NOT OF THE
WORLD, but I have chosen you out of the world,
therefore the world hateth you." John 15:19If Mr. Reed is not of this world, why is he
spending so much energy "reforming it", instead
of leading others to Christ and on into
Heaven--the Christian's real home?
Is Billy Graham ignoring God?
A side-bar article in Time magazine, October 23,
1989, states:"Some 30 years ago, Billy Graham, 70, turned
down the offer of a star on Hollywood Boulevard
because he thought it would be too self-
aggrandizing. But last week the evangelist, who
has ministered to 100 million people around the
world, reconsidered. 'I hope it will identify me
with gospel that I preach,' he said. His will be the
1,900th star on the famed sidewalk, near those of
Julie Andrews and Wayne Newton."Yet, God specifically commands: "BE YE NOT
UNEQUALLY YOKED TOGETHER WITH
UNBELIEVERS: for WHAT FELLOWSHIP hath
righteousness with unrighteousness? and what
communion hath light with darkness? ....or
what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
And what agreement hath the temple of God
with idols? for ye are the temple of the living
God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and
walk in them; and I will be their God, and they
shall be my people. Wherefore COME OUT
FROM AMONG THEM, AND BE YE SEPARATE,
saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing;
and I will receive you." 2 Cor. 6:14-17Perhaps the article should have read that he
thought it would be too self-aggrandizing, but
the evangelist, who has ministered to 100
million people around the world, CONFUSED
THEM ALL BY COMPROMISING! And don't
forget, his star will be near that of Wayne
Newton, an unbeliever--the one time king of the
Las Vegas night clubs. You know, Las Vegas
--one of the sin capitals of the world!Does Bryan Duncan know God?
In the February/March 1999 issue of Release
magazine, a publication dedicated to
contemporary Christian music, page 50, we find
24 questions designed to draw a quick
biographical sketch of singer Bryan Duncan.
Here are just nine of those questions (his
answers are italicized):1 "Thing you can't do to save your life: Beat a
speeding ticket."
2 "Pet Peeves: Slow Drivers."
3 "Number of speeding tickets (honestly): 22"
4 "Most Prized Possession: '78 Superbeetle
convertible."
5 "Best gift ever received: My first Schwinn
bike with police flasher on the fender."
6 "Hangout: Leather lazy boy in front of the big
screen with the remote."
7 "Last video rented: Good Will Hunting."
8 "If music wasn't your career, what do you
think you'd be doing: Selling ice cream."
9 "Worst fear: Nobody at the show!"1, 2, and 3: Mr. Duncan doesn't seem to realize
that if he breaks the laws of man, in most cases
he is bucking the will of God. God allows the
laws of the land to exist, and as long as they
don't violate the God's Word, we must submit
to them: "Submit yourselves to every ordinance
of man for the Lord's sake" (1 Pet. 2:13). "Put
them in mind to be subject to principalities and
powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to
every good work," Titus 3:1
4 and 5: Notice that he doesn't consider his
SALVATION his most prized possession. It
doesn't even rank as the best gift ever received:
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and
that not of yourselves: it is THE GIFT OF GOD."
(Eph. 2:8-9). Jesus even told His disciples:
"Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the
spirits are subject unto you; but rather REJOICE,
BECAUSE your names are written in heaven."
Luke 10:20
6 and 7: Quite a contrast to the psalmist, who,
aspiring to know and please his holy God and
LORD, says: "I will set NO WICKED THING
BEFORE MINE EYES." Psalm 101:3
8: Apparently, serving God--as a missionary, for
example--is out of the question; perhaps he
feels ice cream has eternal ramifications!
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the
mercies of God, that ye present your bodies A
LIVING SACRIFICE, holy, acceptable unto God,
which is your reasonable service." Rom. 12:1
9: Apparently, he fears more looking like a fool
for Christ than losing a loved one to Hell: "And
fear not them which kill the body, but are not
able to kill the soul: but rather FEAR HIM which
is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
Mat. 10:28This may seem like "nit-picking" to some, but
imagine if the Apostle Paul were asked the same
questions. Would you expect him to give such
worldly answers? Or would Paul's answers
reflect a Christ-centered life? Paul said:
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, HE IS A NEW
CREATURE: old things are passed away; behold,
all things are become new." 2 Cor. 5:17No one can deny that Mr. Duncan's answers
reveal an unchrist-like preoccupation in his
heart. The Lord Jesus Christ said: "O generation
of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good
things? for OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE
HEART THE MOUTH SPEAKETH." Mat. 12:34Does Spirit Fest preach the gospel?
Spirit Fest Midwest is advertised as "A Christian
family festival of music, worship & camping." It
is a three day, annual event, occurring during the
summer in Minnesota. During this large outdoor
camping festival, thousands of people attend, to
hear speakers, teachers (the word "preachers" is
not used), and most of all, music groups, in an
effort "to worship God." Spirit Fest's mission
statement declares:
"Spirit Fest Midwest believes the Bible is the
living Word of God and believes salvation is given
to all who believe in Jesus Christ. Spirit Fest
affirms the Apostle's Creed as a unifying
statement of the Christian faith."First of all, the term "Apostle's Creed" appears
no where in the Bible. It is a term coined by
man, placing too much emphasis on the
Apostle's traditions--as if we didn't have the
teachings of Christ Himself! Secondly, the
mission statement proclaims God's plan of
salvation without mentioning "REPENTANCE".Repentance is necessary for salvation and
should be preached, along with faith. Jesus
Christ preached repentance: "And saying, The
time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at
hand: REPENT YE, and believe the gospel" (Mark
1:15). When Christ sent out His disciples, the
Bible says they preached repentance: "And they
went out, and PREACHED THAT MEN
SHOULD REPENT." Mark 6:12
The Lord Jesus Christ, right before His
ascension into heaven, said: "Thus it is written,
and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise
from the dead the third day: And that
REPENTANCE AND REMISSION OF SINS
SHOULD BE PREACHED in his name among all
nations, beginning at Jerusalem." Luke 24:46-47Paul preached repentance when he went door to
door, "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to
the Greeks, REPENTANCE toward God, and faith
toward our Lord Jesus Christ." Acts 20:21
So why doesn't Spirit Fest Midwest preach
repentance? Jesus said you can't get saved
without it: "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye
repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Luke 13:3"To the law and to the testimony: if they
speak not according to this word, it is because
there is no light in them." Isa. 8:20
IF you were to die today, are you 100% SURE
you would go to Heaven? The Bible says
YOU CAN BE SURE (1 John 5:13).BUT FIRST, you must realize that what keeps you
from going to Heaven are your sins, because:
"...your iniquities [sins] have separated
between you and your God," Isaiah 59:2.
In fact, in God's eyes YOU ARE A SINNER: "For
all have sinned, and come short
of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23.SECONDLY, you must realize that there is
NOTHING you can do to save yourself and earn
Heaven: "For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is
the gift of God: Not of works, lest any
man should boast." (Eph. 2:8-9). Baptism, good
deeds, church membership, self-righteousness are
all examples of good works that cannot save you,
because: "Not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but
according to his mercy he [Christ] saved
us," Titus 3:5.THE ONLY WAY you can get saved is through
Jesus Christ. He said: "I am the way, the
truth, and the life: no man cometh unto
the Father, but by me." (John 14:6). THAT'S
WHY: "...while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us." Romans 5:8-9THEREFORE: You must REPENT (change your
mind); admit that you are a Hell deserving sinner
and can't save yourself. And call upon Christ, and
Him alone, to save you. "if thou shalt confess
with thy mouth the Lord Jesus [REPENT], and
shalt believe in thine heart [TRUST] that God
hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved." Romans 10:9SEND THE LIGHT
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